by Mandy Magro
Charlize watched his jaw clench as a shadow crossed his face, but then it was gone as soon as it had arrived. He turned to see her looking at him and he gave her another smile. She held his eyes, wanting to know what he was hiding behind his smile, and the intensity between them began to build as he too, searched her gaze with his own.
‘Oh darling, look at you.’ Roberto came frolicking between them, breaking the intense moment, his arms outstretched as he yanked Charlize into a tight hug. He kissed her on the cheek and then stepped backwards, his hands still resting on her shoulders as he clucked his tongue. ‘I must say this look suits you, sweetie pie. You make a very sexy little cowgirl—’ he turned to Dallas ‘—wouldn’t you agree, darling?’
‘One hundred and ten per cent,’ Dallas said, replying to Roberto although his eyes were still locked onto Charlize’s.
She had to look away, feeling as though Dallas had somehow climbed inside her to discover her feelings for him. Not that it would be the end of the world. What right-minded hot-blooded woman wouldn’t harbour lustful thoughts about a man as hunky as him?
But there were two very good reasons for her to deny them: firstly it would be unprofessional for a journalist to fall in love with her subject; and secondly, as much as she didn’t want to be anymore, she was still married.
She shook the thoughts away. ‘I love your choice of outfit too, Roberto. The red jeans go very well with your black muscle shirt.’
‘Oh thank you, sweetie pie.’ Oblivious to the sparks shooting between Charlize and Dallas, Roberto squealed as he spotted what was for smoko. He clapped his hands like a child at a lolly shop. ‘Kath darling. I knew we were in for a treat when you told me about your famous scones this morning, but seriously, you’ve gone and outdone yourself.’ He picked one of the golden mounds up and inspected it. ‘This would have to be one of the most delectable looking scones I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.’ He jiggled on the spot. ‘And looky, there’s fresh cream and jam to go with it.’ He pulled his mobile from his pocket and took a few shots of the smoko table. ‘I must share on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Everyone will be green with envy.’
A fully dressed Will wandered from the wardrobe tent and joined them at the table. ‘Far out, Dallas, that was a headspin, man. I thought I was gonna hate it, but I actually had fun doing it.’
‘Yeah, well, you looked in your element out there—’ Dallas reached out and flicked Will’s shaggy blonde hair ‘—Fabio.’
‘Oi, shithead.’ Will reached out and gave him a firm slap while grinning. ‘Don’t pick on my hair, dude. I have feelings, you know.’
‘Yeah right, bugalugs, whatevs.’ Dallas laughed and so did Will, the pair of them clearly very good mates. Charlize smiled at their banter. It was nice to be around men that could make fun of themselves. Alistair always hated any criticism, no matter how constructive or light-hearted.
Will caught Charlize’s eye and smiled. He turned back to Dallas. ‘Aren’t you going to introduce me to the pretty lady here?’
Chuckling, Dallas motioned to her with a sweep of his hand. ‘Will, this is Charlize. The lady that’s come all the way from the big smoke to interview me.’
‘Hi Will,’ Charlize held out her hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’
Will grabbed her hand and instead of shaking it he kissed it. ‘And very nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.’
‘I hope it’s all good.’ Charlize tried not to laugh, as Dallas playfully slapped Will over the head. ‘She’s married, remember, so back down, Fabio.’
What did Dallas mean, by remember? She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation Will and he had had about her.
Will shrugged. ‘Just being hospitable.’ He grinned cheekily then rubbed his hands together when he spotted the scones. ‘Hey Missus Armstrong, I see you’re looking after us, as always.’
‘Hi Will.’ Katherine graced him with the smile of a mother. ‘How are you, love?’
‘Yeah, great, how are you going?’
‘Getting there,’ she said with a warm smile. ‘Thanks for asking.’
‘Howdy, ladies,’ Phil said as he approached them.
‘Hi Phil,’ Katherine and Charlize said in unison.
Charlize noted how different he looked out of his overalls. Her face flushed. She was still embarrassed about careening through his fence.
Will took a bite from his scone and then groaned in pleasure. ‘You’re missing out here, Dad.’
Charlize instantly spotted the resemblance between father and son. They were both very handsome fellows.
Phil smiled. ‘Yeah, I can see that.’ He pointed to the smoko table. ‘Make sure you lot save me some of those bundles of deliciousness because it looks like I’m up next.’
‘No to worry, Phil.’ Katherine’s eyes looked everywhere but at his naked chest as she pretended to be engrossed in helping Roberto pile the whipped cream on his second scone. ‘I promise I’ll save you a couple.’
Roberto spun around. ‘Oh hi Phil.’ He licked some cream from his fingers. ‘You get yourself comfy on them bales of hay over there and I’ll be with you in a jiffy, okay, sweet pea?’
Phil looked a little taken aback at being called sweet pea and Charlize stifled a chuckle as he puffed his chest out, as though trying to state his manliness. Not that he needed to—Phil was a very manly looking sample indeed—thickset and solid.
‘Oh right, yup, okay. Meet you there, mate,’ Phil replied as he ambled over to the bales of hay.
True to his word, Roberto was only seconds behind him with his two pumpkin scones balanced on a paper plate under dollops of cream. He pointed and waved and motioned for about a minute as he explained what he wanted from Phil, and then he got himself comfortable on the ground in front of him. Taking a dainty bite from his scone, he then got his camera positioned. ‘Okay, darling, rip that towel off, cover your dangly bits with your hat, and let’s get cracking.’
Phil was a little reluctant but did as he was asked; his iridescent white bum now bared for all to see as he placed his hat over his manhood and dropped his towel.
Katherine gasped and her hand flew up to cover her gaping mouth. She shook her head slowly. ‘Oh good lord, I knew they were going to be getting naked but actually seeing it for real is a little bit overwhelming.’
Phil caught her staring at him and tipped his head, a half cheeky, half modest grin plastered across his face.
Charlize couldn’t help but notice the rising blush on Katherine’s cheeks, the spark between the two noticeable, if only by another woman’s trained eye. It was small, like a controlled campfire, but it was there.
Following orders from Roberto, who was now kneeling on the ground with his camera glued to his face, Phil awkwardly began to strike poses, looking very out of his comfort zone as he raised one leg up and onto the hay bale like he was standing at a bar talking to a mate, his dangly bits peeking out below the brim of his hat.
Katherine gasped again.
Charlize instinctively went to cover her eyes.
Will and Dallas turned to look out over the paddocks as though captivated by the grass.
Things weren’t looking good.
‘Oh come on, darling, let yourself go and have fun with it.’ Roberto’s high-pitched voice filled the roundyard as he waved his free hand around in the air.
‘Well, I’m trying to, but it’s a bit hard being butt naked,’ Phil replied a little gruffly.
Charlize took a step forwards. ‘I think I better go and offer some help. I can’t let him battle it out on his own out there.’
‘I reckon that’s a good idea,’ Dallas mumbled through a mouthful of scone.
Charlize gave him a light-hearted stern look. ‘Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?’
‘I always did, and still do.’ Katherine shook her head, laughing. ‘And yes, that’d be nice, love. I think he could use a bit of help.’
‘Right, I’ll be back soon.’ She po
inted to Dallas and feigned sternness by frowning. ‘Don’t eat all the scones, I still haven’t had one yet.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Dallas saluted her as though he was a corporal in the army. Charlize rolled her eyes and giggled.
Reaching Phil, she smiled. ‘Hi Phil, how’s things going?’
‘I feel way outta my comfort zone, standing here butt naked, but other than that things are pretty good.’ Obviously forgetting he was naked, Phil swished the flies away from his face with his hat, leaving his manhood jingle jangling. Charlize instinctively looked up to the sky just as Phil realised what he’d done.
‘Oh shit.’ He brought the hat back down, his cheeks now ablaze. ‘I’m sorry about that—I’m such an oaf.’
Charlize had to stop herself from bursting out laughing. The poor bloke was clearly nervous as hell. ‘Do you mind if I give you some direction?’
‘Please do, sweetie pie,’ Roberto called out from where he now sat on the ground, gnawing on a scone.
‘I reckon if you stand behind the bale of hay and lean in on it, you could then put your hat on your head and maybe feel a little bit less naked. What do you think?’
‘I think I like that idea a hell of a lot,’ Phil said with a relieved grin.
Chuffed her idea worked, Charlize got him comfortable and within moments Phil was smiling for all of Australia as the shutter on Roberto’s camera clicked away. And it suited Phil down to T; the laid-back casual poses as he leant on the hay seemed much more natural.
The Insider’s wardrobe guru, Magda Matrues, stuck her head out of the gazebo they’d set up for her, her bright red hair matching her fiery nature. ‘Charlize, do you know when the other two will be here so I can do their hair and make-up?’ She tapped her watch, her lips pursed. ‘Because time is money.’
‘I’m not too sure,’ Charlize called back. ‘Let me check with Dallas.’
‘Thank you. By the way, I’m loving the cowgirl look—very cute.’ And then she disappeared back from whence she’d come. Charlize was thankful for the fact, Magda’s fragile moods something she tried to avoid by steering well clear of her as much as she could. Jasper put it down to menopause, but Charlize put it down to Magda just being a grump.
Just as she was about to ask Dallas where Johnno and Tim were, the rumble of a V8 engine pulled everyone’s attention towards a Holden one-tonne ute coming down the dusty drive. The vehicle, decked out with all the bells and whistles—three antennas, enough spotlights to light up all of Australia, and stickers about Wrangler butts and cowboys on almost every inch of the bumper bar—pulled up in the shade, the country song blaring from the speakers loud enough for half of Grenfell to hear. Then out piled the lankiest man Charlize had ever laid her eyes upon, followed by a bloke that could easily have passed as Zac Efron’s brother. She made an Mmm noise under her breath. There certainly were some hot men hiding out here in the bush.
‘Stringbean and Hank,’ Dallas called out. ‘So nice of you to finally grace us with your presence.’
‘Oh, Strongman, were you worried I stood you up?’ The lanky one replied with a grin.
Dallas pulled a heartbroken face. ‘I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me.’
‘As if that would ever happen, when you two have got man crushes on each other,’ the Zac Efron guy said, ducking just in time when the lanky bloke went to smack him over the head.
‘The tall one’s Tim,’ Katherine said, as though reading Charlize’s thoughts. ‘He’s always, always running late.’ She chuckled. ‘He was even late to his own wedding and poor Hollie was left standing at the altar waiting for him.’ She motioned to the guy on the right with a tip of her head. ‘And the other one is Johnno, the Railway’s publican—he was out the day you and I had lunch. Dallas has been mates with all these guys since they were basically in nappies.’
Charlize nodded as she took all the info in. Other than Jane, she hadn’t kept in touch with any of her childhood friends, and it was heartwarming to see such strong bonds amongst the blokes.
‘How do,’ Johnno said to all of them as he made his way into the roundyard. He spotted the smoko table. ‘Oh, Missus A, your famous pumpkin scones—you’re a superstar.’
Tim sped past him, grinning. ‘She is a superstar, and they’re all for me, sorry Hank.’ He came to a halt at the table and gave Katherine a hearty hug. ‘Nice to see you, Missus A.’
Katherine gave him a hearty hug back. ‘And you, Tim.’
‘Wardrobe!’ Magda’s high-pitched voice carried across the roundyard, and everyone could tell from the tone she meant business.
Tim looked towards her. ‘Should I be afraid?’
‘By the looks of her, very,’ Johnno said with a chuckle.
‘She’s certainly a doer, I’ll give her that,’ Dallas added with a grin.
‘Tell me about it. That body bronzer stuff she sprayed on me was so thick I almost choked to death, and instead of asking me if I was all right she said to toughen up,’ Will added.
The four guys chuckled amongst themselves as Phil appeared beside them, his towel now tugged firmly around his waist. ‘If I were either of you two I’d get my arse over there quick smart. She might just throw you over her lap and tan your butts if you hold her up any longer.’
Johnno eyed Phil up and down as he shoved half a scone in his mouth. ‘Looking good there, chief. Been working out at the gym, have we?’
‘Yeah, as if I’d step foot in a gym.’ Phil poked Johnno in the ribs. ‘That’ll be enough cheek. Now get going before she chews all our heads off.’
Plopping a spoonful of cream on his scone, Tim took off in the direction of wardrobe, with Johnno following.
‘Dallas, you’re up next.’ Roberto called out. ‘I’ll leave you to get that brute of yours in here, darling.’
‘Yup, I’ll just go grab him,’ Dallas called back.
Charlize tipped her head. ‘Grab who?’
‘Oh, T-Bone, my pet bull.’
‘Holy shit.’ Charlize sucked in a breath. ‘You’re bringing a bull in here? With all of us?’
‘Sure am.’ He pointed to the back of the stables. ‘He’s just over there. Wanna help me get him.’
‘Um.’
Dallas chuckled. ‘Don’t stress. You stay here. I’ll be back in a sec.’
Will nudged her as Dallas jogged out of sight. ‘Don’t worry. T-Bone’s a big teddy bear. You’ll love him.’
‘I will?’
‘Yes, you will, sweetheart. We can’t help but love old T-Bone,’ Katherine chimed in as she dusted her hands off. ‘Right, I’ll just pack all this up and then I’m off to hang the washing out and wash up these plates and cups. And most importantly of all give Dallas his privacy.’
‘If you just give me a minute to get some clothes on I’ll come for a walk with you, Kath, help you carry all the smoko stuff back up to the homestead.’
‘Oh, it’s okay, Phil, I can handle it.’ She held up the basket that was now empty. ‘I’ll just throw everything back in here and Bob’s your mother’s brother.’
‘Now, Kath, you made us all a ripper smoko, we can’t have you cleaning up after us too. I’d feel much better if I come and give you a hand.’
Katherine smiled in his direction. ‘Okay, then. Thanks, Phil, that’d be nice.’
‘And while you lot do all that, I’m gonna get me some shut eye under that tree until I’m needed for the group shot,’ Will said, pointing to where Tim’s ute was parked. ‘This modelling stuff is tiring work.’
‘Well, I guess I’ll just wait here until Dallas brings T-Bone back then,’ Charlize said with a wobbly grin. She sat down in one of the fold-out camp chairs.
Five minutes later, Dallas wandered back into the roundyard with a skyscraper of muscle and bone moseying along behind him like a pet dog. After making sure the gate was shut, he headed in Charlize’s direction, and so did T-Bone. Charlize’s jaw dropped, her heart galloped and her body tensed as if waiting for a blow. Was Dallas seriously bringing that
monster of a thing to her?
Oh my god. Oh my god. OH! MY! GOD!
She tried to catch her breath, but couldn’t. She needed a distraction. Dallas. Dallas was a perfect distraction. So she kept her gaze on him instead of the one tonne of brawn ambling behind him, admiring the way his muscles rippled with every step, the way his handsome face remained slightly hidden beneath the shadow of his hat so she couldn’t make out whether he was looking at her or not, and the way his confident gait gave the impression that it wouldn’t be wise to mess with him—a very sexy trait indeed.
It was then that she finally admitted to herself that Dallas Armstrong was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen, or known, for that matter—apart from her dad of course. She knew that was melodramatic, over the top—ridiculous even—but the longer she sat gazing at him, the more convinced she became that he was the epitome of what every woman wanted in a man—strong, sexy, kind, protective, hardworking. And to top all that off, he had a wonderful sense of humour. He was going to make a woman very happy one day. Extremely happy.
But before she could ponder this any further, he was standing before her, with his bundle of muscle breathing heavily beside him.
‘T-Bone said he wanted to meet you.’
Charlize could see his face now; see his gorgeous smile and the glint of cheek that was always there in his beautiful blue eyes. ‘Oh did he now?’ She stood on jelly legs, trying to feign confidence. ‘Hi T-Bone, lovely to meet you.’
Dallas reached out. ‘Here, you’re shaking. Give me your hand.’
And so she did.
Dallas gently squeezed her fingers, sending sparks throughout her as he led her into T-Bone’s space. ‘Trust me. I wouldn’t let him anywhere near you if there was any risk of him hurting you.’
His voice was so calming. She felt her body relax a little as she nodded.
T-Bone eyed her.
She eyed T-Bone.
Bringing her hand up with his, Dallas placed it upon T-Bone’s head, and to her surprise, the bull gently pushed into her palm like Bruce did when he wanted some loving. Charlize couldn’t help herself and began to stroke his massive head. ‘Hi mate,’ she whispered. His coat was silky smooth, and he smelt of freshly mown grass.